Rhine & Main Explorer

Enjoy a boat ride through picturesque Petite France and discover Strasbourg’s mix of German and French culture. Take a scenic drive through the Alsatian capital’s German Imperial District and the European Quarter, home to institutions such as the European Union and the Council of Europe. Pass remarkable Renaissance architecture en route to the city center, where you will board a boat for a scenic journey through charming Petite France. Surrounded by the Ill River and crisscrossed by charming canals, the former tanner's district is home to the Old Customs House and the bridges with their defensive towers. After disembarking in the old town, walk to Cathedral Square and view the magnificently restored Strasbourg Cathedral, one of Europe’s finest Gothic cathedrals. Enjoy free time to admire the great Gothic rosette window, beautiful red sandstone portal and remarkable astronomical clock.

Explore the treasures of Alsace, from its Renaissance beauty and distinct culture to its crisp, clean white wines. World-renowned for its viticulture, Alsace is enriched with a dry mild climate, favorable soils and ideal exposure for its vineyards. Its location creates a blend of Germanic and Roman influences, and tells a story started by wine-producing Romans. The fine white wines produced here rival the crisp Rieslings of neighboring Germany. Enjoy a drive along the Alsatian Wine Route and a stop in one of its charming villages. At the winery, tour the cellar and, if the season permits, take a walk through the vineyards. The winegrower will introduce you to local wines and describe the history of harvesting and wine growing in the region. You will have the chance to taste several vintages, with ample opportunity to talk with your host about the skills required to produce French wines.

Sample Alsatian and French flavors and pleasures as you meet food merchants, a French sommelier and a local chef. Accompany your guide on a shopping excursion through Strasbourg; you may sample regional specialties such as chocolates, pralines, kougelhopf cake, croissants, freshly made baguettes and pretzels, cheeses and special regional meats or sausages. At your next stop, a professional sommelier will verse you in the art of pairing local foods with Alsatian and French wines. Later, tour the romantic, picturesque Petite France, Strasbourg’s canal-laced Old Town lined with half-timbered houses. Next, enjoy the cozy atmosphere of a typical winstub eatery, where the resident chef will teach you to make flammkuchen. Taste the results with a local beer. Finally, stroll to the Gothic Strasbourg Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock. Enjoy free time before returning to your ship.

Travel back to a time of lords and knights during a visit to the impressive medieval castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg. A symbol of Alsatian heritage, the castle sits high atop a rocky promontory overlooking the region. From 1174, it guarded the Upper Rhine Plain until its destruction during the Thirty Years War; for centuries, it lay in ruins before an extensive reconstruction during the 20th century restored its former glory. A scenic drive through the countryside will take you to the castle, where you will ascend the gravel path and enter through its High Gate. Tour the lower courtyard, inn, blacksmith’s workshop and mill before climbing the narrow spiral staircase to the lord’s furnished residence. Admire the richly decorated trappings of medieval life throughout, including the monumental frescoes that adorn the walls, then enjoy free time in the garden. After, transfer back to your ship.